Hammock last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Hammock is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hammock.

Meaning of Hammock

A habitational surname referring to someone who lived near a bend or hook-shaped piece of land.

Hammock, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hammock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hammock in America

Hammock is the 4877th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hammock surname appeared 7,222 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hammock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hammock to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 4877 4482 8.44%
Count 7,222 7,287 -0.90%
Proportion per 100k 2.45 2.70 -9.71%

The history of the last name Hammock

The surname Hammock is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Middle English word "hameok," which referred to a small hamlet or village. This term itself likely stemmed from the Old English "hammocc," meaning a small homestead or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record compiled in 1279 for parts of England and Wales. An entry from Essex lists a "Willmus de Hameok," suggesting that the name was in use by that time. Similar spellings, such as "Hamok" and "Hameoke," can also be found in medieval records from various counties, indicating its widespread presence across England.

The Hammock name has a strong connection to place names, with many early bearers likely hailing from small villages or hamlets. For instance, the Domesday Book of 1086 mentions a settlement called "Hameoc" in Gloucestershire, which may have given rise to the surname. Similarly, there are records of places called "Hammook" or "Hammock" in counties like Somerset and Wiltshire, further reinforcing the locational origins of the name.

One notable early bearer of the Hammock surname was John Hammock, born around 1430 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry. Another individual of note was William Hammock, born in 1523 in Somerset, who was a respected scholar and author of several theological works.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hammock name gained prominence with several individuals making significant contributions. Thomas Hammock (1566-1638) was a successful merchant and served as an alderman in the city of Bristol. Meanwhile, Richard Hammock (1592-1670) was a renowned barrister and legal scholar who authored several influential treatises on English law.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Hammock surname continued to spread across England, with bearers residing in various counties, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Oxfordshire. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Hammock (1687-1756), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who established several charitable institutions in his native Gloucestershire.

Throughout its history, the Hammock name has maintained a strong association with its English origins and locational roots. While the surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its connection to the small hamlets and villages of medieval England remains a defining aspect of its etymology and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hammock

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hammock.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hammock was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 81.79% 5,907
Non-Hispanic Black Only 12.66% 914
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.40% 29
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.80% 58
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.09% 151
Hispanic Origin 2.26% 163

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hammock has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 81.79% 83.09% -1.58%
Black 12.66% 12.82% -1.26%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.40% 0.44% -9.52%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.80% 0.77% 3.82%
Two or More Races 2.09% 1.45% 36.16%
Hispanic 2.26% 1.43% 44.99%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hammock was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hammock, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Hammock last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/hammock-surname-popularity/.

"Hammock last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/hammock-surname-popularity/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Hammock last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/hammock-surname-popularity/.

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